Easel



(No Model.)

W. H. VAN WART.

Patented July 3,1888.

EASEL.

IN VENTOR:

BY MM ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES um Washington, DI C.

Warren XVILLIAM H. VAN vVART, OF STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

EASEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,536, dated July 3, 1888.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. VAN WAR'I, of Stonington, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Easels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in easels, and has for its object to provide a detachable and adjustable shelf for the same adapted to receive the colors, pallet, and other materials or tools used by an artist, or articles of bric-abrac or other ornaments when the easel is employedto display a picture, and likewise to afford a brace whereby strength and solidity will be imparted to the easel.

The invention consists in providing an easel with a shelf, and in the construction and combination of the several parts, as will be here inal'ter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an easel having the improvement applied, and Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the detached shelf.

In carrying out the invention thelegs of the easel A below the table A, adapted to receive the canvas or picture, are provided with one or a series of apertures, a, the aperture in the rear member or leg being ordinarily out of alignment with the apertures in the front members.

. in further carrying out theinvention a shelf, B, is provided, preferably of a contour similar to the contour of the easel near the base when the members are extended, which is usually more or less rectangular. The shelf B is provided centrally its narrowest end with an integral or attached horizontal post, 12, and at the opposite or widest end at each corner with a recess, b, as shown in Fig. 2. r

In the event the easel is adapted for the display of pictures or for use in a studio the shelf may be made of one piece; but for use with easels designed to be folded for transportation or out-of-door work the shelf is preferably made in longitudinal sections D, each section being hinged to the other upon the under face, as illustrated in the accompanying tioned, the stud b is entered one of the aper- 5 tures a of the rear member, and the walls of the recesses b are made to engage the rear surface of the respective forward or front members, and the front end of the shelf is held in position by pins d being passed through the proper aperture in the front members and beneath the shelf, as shown in Fig. 1, or in any other approved or suitable manner.

It will thus be observed that a receptacle is provided adapted to receive the artists materials in a working-easel, and to receive ornaments when the easel is employed for display.

It will also be observed that, while the shelf is useful for the purpose above set forth,it acts in the capacity of a brace, imparting both strength and steadiness to the easel.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination,with an easel, of a shelf adj ustably secured to the several members between the same below the workingtable, substantiall y as shown and described, whereby the said shelf serves as a brace uniting and spacing the members, as set forth.

2. The combination, with an easel, of a detachable shelf adj ustabl y secured to theseveral members between the same below the workingtable, whereby the said members are braced and united when the easel is in position of use, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with an easel, of a detachable folding shelf attached thereto between the members, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with an easel, ofa detachable adjustable and folding shelf attached thereto between the members and below the table or support for the picture, substantially as shown and described.

WV. H. VAN \VART.

\Vitnesses:

J. F. AOKER, J r., O. SEDe'wroK. 

